EP1719248B1 - High-rate random bitstream generation - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves sampling a pseudo random output bit stream and delaying the sampled stream by a preset value. The delayed stream is combined with a pseudo random input bit stream of low rate, by a combiner (40). The delay introduced by a delay line (41) corresponds to (((2 l>)(T 1)) - T 0). The parameter l is decimation parameter. The variables T 1 and T 0 represent clock periods of the input and output bit streams, respectively. An independent claim is also included for a pseudo random initial bit stream acceleration circuit.

Description

The present invention relates to the random generation of a bit stream. The invention relates more particularly to the generation of a high-speed stream (greater than 10 gigabits / s) and applies more particularly to high-speed transmissions on any communication links or networks.

The figure 1 illustrates, very schematically and in block form, a first example of application of the present invention. This is a test of a communication link 1 between a transmitter 2 (Tx) and a receiver 3 (Rx). The link may be an electrical, optical or aerial link. The communication standards provide standardized tests for simulating traffic on the links. These tests are carried out by means of a specific apparatus 4 (TEST-RNG), connected in place of the transmitter 2. This test apparatus transmits a pseudo-random sequence PRBS on the transmission line. This sequence is usually very high speed. In the test application, it is also possible to directly test a device (for example, the receiver or a link clock recuperator) electrical, optical, wireless, opto-electric or electro-optical. The pseudo-random sequences are fixed, for example, by an ITQ 0.151 standard.

The figure 2 illustrates, in a very schematic view and in block form, a second example of application of the invention. This involves scrambling or encoding a transmission, or averaging the characteristics of the signals in order to mask the transmitted data or to balance the traffic on a link.

The figure 2 represents a transmitter 2 (Tx) connected to a link 1. The transmitter 2 comprises a digital data processing circuit 21 (μTx) D for transmission after possible modulation (modulator 22) on a carrier OL coming from a local oscillator, and passing through an emission amplifier 23 (LNA). A scrambler or encoder 24 is provided at the output of the circuit 21 before modulation by the element 22. This scrambler (SCRAMB-RNG) is intended to modify, using a pseudo random sequence, the characteristics of the transmitted data.

The invention is also applicable in the case of optical transmission. For example, a scrambler may be interposed upstream of the electro-optical conversion, the local oscillator being a light source, for example, a laser.

Pseudo random generators are also used in error correction code applications, code division multiple access (CDMA) transmissions, cryptography, and so on.

The figure 3 represents a classic example of a generator of a pseudo random sequence (PRBS) of the type used in the aforementioned applications. Such a generator is based on the use of shift registers looped on themselves. Several latches 30 (B1, Bi, Bn) are associated in series, that is to say that the Q output of the flip-flop B1 is connected to the data input D of the second flip-flop and so on until that the Q output of the penultimate rocker is connected to the input D of the nth flip-flops. The output of the last flip-flop Bn is looped back, via an exclusive-OR gate 31, to the input D of the first rocker. The second input of the gate 31 is connected at the output of an intermediate flip-flop Bi of the series association.

The number of flip-flops depends on the power desired for the pseudo-random sequence, that is to say the number of bits on which the probability of obtaining a 0 or a 1 is respected. The longer the sequence, the greater the number n of flip-flops, the better the randomness of the generated PRBS sequence. In fact, the length of the sequence is equal to 2 ⁿ -1. For example, using 7 flip-flops, a sequence of 127 bits is obtained.

The choice of the position of the intermediate latch Bi in the series association is related to obtaining an irreducible polynomial of degree n and thus depends on the number of stages. The generated bit sequences are generally called "m-Sequences" and respect a linear recurrence whose polynomial characteristic is primitive. Such sequences are for example described in Robert J. Mc Eliece's Finite Fields For Computer Scientists And Engineers, published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 1995.

A disadvantage of the current PRBS electrical signal generators is related to broadband applications, that is to say several tens of gigabits / s. The realization of logic circuits and in particular fast flip-flops requires particularly expensive technologies. In practice, beyond 10 to 20 gigabits / s, it is necessary to use multiplexers to mix signals out of phase with each other according to an ETDM technique (Electrical Time Division Multiplexing), the number of inputs (hence the complexity) is related to desired acceleration factor. This solution also requires generating, in parallel, all the phase-shifted signals.

In an optical embodiment, there is no equipment today that can achieve speeds of more than 48 gigabits per second, except for the use of OTDM multiplexers (Optical Time Division Multiplexing) whose number is linked. to the desired acceleration factor.

The present invention aims to propose a new technique for generating random bit streams that makes it possible to achieve high data rates. According to a first aspect, the invention aims to reduce the number of electronic elements used for generating the flow. The invention aims in particular to allow a reduction in the number of fast components of a shift register generator, or the use of a simple two-input multiplexer.

The invention also aims to propose a solution that is compatible with electronic and / or optical generation.

The document US-A-4,545,024 discloses a random number generator in which a delayed output bit stream is combined with an input bit stream. The two streams are not identical. The frequency of the output stream is less than or equal to that of the input stream. In addition, this document excludes the use of a pseudo-random input stream. In addition, the document WO 01/37441 describes a pseudo random number generator.

• à prélever le flux de bits de sortie ;
• à retarder le flux prélevé d'une valeur (τ) prédéterminée ; et
• à combiner le flux retardé avec le flux de bits d'entrée.

To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a method of accelerating a pseudo-random input bit stream, generated at a relatively low first clock rate, to an identical output bit stream. at a second relatively high clock rate, consisting of:

• taking the output bit stream;
• delaying the sampled flow by a predetermined value (τ); and
• combining the delayed stream with the input bit stream.

où T₁ représente la période d'horloge du flux de bits d'entrée, où T₀ représente la période de l'horloge du flux de bits de sortie, et où ℓ est un nombre entier fixant un paramètre de décimation.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the delay τ is chosen to respect the following relation: $$\mathrm{\tau }\mathrm{=}{\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{\ell }}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{1}}\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{0}}\mathrm{,}$$

where T ₁ represents the clock period of the input bit stream, where T ₀ represents the clock period of the output bit stream, and where ℓ is an integer setting a decimation parameter.

où k représente un entier quelconque, et où n représente le degré du polynôme irréductible de la séquence aléatoire.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the delay τ is chosen to respect the following relation: $$\mathrm{\tau }\mathrm{=}\left(\mathrm{2}\mathrm{k}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\left({\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{not}}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{0}}\mathrm{,}$$

where k represents any integer, and where n represents the degree of the irreducible polynomial of the random sequence.

où p est le facteur d'accélération souhaité.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the numbers k and ℓ respect the following relation: $$\left(\mathrm{2}\mathrm{k}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\left({\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{not}}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\mathrm{p}{\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{\ell }}\mathrm{,}$$

where p is the desired acceleration factor.

The invention also provides an acceleration circuit of an initial bit stream generated at a first relatively low frequency, in an identical bit stream accelerated at a second relatively high frequency, comprising a combiner whose first input receives the stream of data. initial bit and whose output provides the accelerated flux, a second input of the combiner being connected by a delay element to the output of the combiner.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a high frequency reshaping element is provided at the output of the combiner.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a phase shifter element is further provided between the generator of the original pseudo-random sequence and the combiner.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the initial bit stream is obtained by a flip-flop generator.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit is made by optical and / or electronic means.

• les figures 1 à 3 qui ont été décrites précédemment sont destinées à exposer l'état de la technique et le problème posé ;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon très schématique et sous forme de blocs, un mode de réalisation d'un dispositif d'accroissement de débit d'un flux aléatoire selon la présente invention ;
• la figure 5 illustre le fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'augmentation de débit selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 6 illustre, de façon très schématique et sous forme de blocs, un mode de réalisation d'un générateur haut débit selon l'invention.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in detail in the following description of particular embodiments given as a non-limiting example in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figures 1 to 3 which have been described above are intended to expose the state of the art and the problem posed;
• the figure 4 shows very schematically and in block form, an embodiment of a device for increasing the flow rate of a random stream according to the present invention;
• the figure 5 illustrates the operation of a rate increase device according to the invention; and
• the figure 6 illustrates, very schematically and in the form of blocks, an embodiment of a high-speed generator according to the invention.

The same elements have been designated by the same references in the different figures. For the sake of clarity, only the elements that are necessary for understanding the invention have been shown in the figures and will be described later. In particular, the practical realization of the electronic circuits exploited by the invention has not been detailed when it comes to implementing devices known per se. In addition, the invention will be described later in connection with an application to electronic devices but it also applies to optical, electro-optical, or optoelectronic devices.

A feature of the present invention is to generate a pseudo-random bit stream at a first clock frequency lower than the desired clock rate, and to combine this initial stream with the delayed output stream of a selected amount, for to output a flow at the higher frequency.

où k représente un entier quelconque, et où (2^n-1) correspond au nombre de bits de la séquence aléatoire.The delay chosen to recombine the output bit stream with the low rate bit stream is chosen to correspond to the total length of the target sequence (2 ⁿ -1) multiplied by the period of the high rate clock and by any odd integer. In other words, by noting τ the delay provided by the line delaying the outgoing bit stream before combining with the incoming bit stream, n the degree of the irreducible polynomial corresponding to the target random sequence, T ₀ the period of the high rate clock and T ₁ the period of the incoming low bit clock, the delay τ is chosen to respect the following formula: $$\mathrm{\tau }=(2\mathrm{k}+1)*(2^{\mathrm{not}}-1)*{\mathrm{T}}_0,$$

where k represents any integer, and where (2 ^n- 1) corresponds to the number of bits of the random sequence.

The figure 4 illustrates, very schematically and in the form of blocks, an embodiment of an accelerator circuit according to the invention. Such a circuit exploits an input of a random bit stream PRBS (T ₁ ) at a relatively low first frequency, and is responsible for providing a pseudo random bit stream PRBS (T ₀ ) at a relatively high frequency. Next, the acceleration factor (p = T ₁ / T ₀ ) will be denoted p. A combiner 40 (COMB) receives as input the low frequency stream and the output bit stream after it has crossed a delay line 41 of value τ.

The present invention takes advantage of the fact that it is possible to generate a stream at a relatively low rate and to combine this stream with the same stream delayed by a suitable period to obtain a higher rate pseudo-random bit stream. Thus, it is possible to use a lower flow generator, therefore less expensive, to obtain the initial flow PRBS (T ₁ ).

The only element that according to the invention must operate at high speed is the combiner 40 (and any downstream elements).

The invention can be implemented by a logic gate circuit provided that the duty cycle of the pulses of the input bit stream is chosen so that the duration of a high state is less than or equal to the duration of a bit of the output stream, that is to say the period T ₀ . In fact, if this high state duration is less than the aforementioned condition, it is possible to generate an output of the RZ type, that is to say with a return to zero. If the duration (width) of high state is equal to the final bit time, the output is of type NRZ, that is to say without return to zero.

The figure 5 illustrates the operation of an accelerator according to the invention. This figure represents, in the form of timing diagrams, an initial bit stream 51 and a final bit stream 52 after application of the acceleration method of the invention. We assume here an initial flux A, B, C, D, E, F, and G of length 2 ⁿ -1 = 7 bits and of irreducible polynomial x ³ + x + 1 of degree n = 3. The delay brought by the line 41 is chosen to correspond to 2 ^ℓ T ₁ - T ₀ with ℓ = 2.

The parameter ℓ is related to the acceleration factor (p) by the following relation: (2k + 1) * (2 ⁿ -1) + 1 = p2 ^ℓ , and sets the chosen decimation parameter (2 ^ℓ ). We can refer to the book of Robert J.Mc Eliece already mentioned for the choice of this parameter.

It can be seen that at the end of a duration corresponding to the delay τ, the random bit stream 52 present at the output of the accelerator corresponds to a double frequency flux with respect to the frequency of the initial stream 51.

In addition, the flow is identical, i.e., the output sequence is equal to the input sequence. For example, assuming that the input sequence <ABCDEFG> is <1110100>, we see that the output sequence <AEBFCGD> is equal to <1110100>.

The example of figure 5 was taken in a simplified way for a doubling of frequency. Note, however, that the number p can be chosen to give a bit stream of a multiple of period greater than two compared to the initial flow. The only condition to be respected is that the delay τ corresponds to an integer multiple of the period T ₀ , that is to say to a value 2 ^ℓ T ₁ -T ₀ , to obtain an output sequence identical to that of input (at the flow rate), and whose pulses in the high state have a duration less than or equal to T ₀ .

The figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of an accelerator according to the invention, associated with a pseudo-random flow generator.

The generator 60 is a modulated pulse generator at a relatively low rate controlled by a clock signal of frequency f1. The output of this generator is sent to an input E2 of a combiner 40 (COMB) whose other input receives the output of the late line 41 bringing a delay τ to a signal which it takes on the stream PRBS (T ₀ ) output. This PRBS flow (T ₀ ) can be provided in practice by a regeneration circuit 42 (REGEN) responsible for shaping, at the frequency f 0> f 1, the output of the combiner 40. Of course, the frequencies f 1 and f 0 are synchronized (for example, by means of a circuit 61 (SYNCH)).

According to another embodiment, a two-input multiplexer is used as a combiner (40). The low rate input signal PRBS (T ₁ ) is then applied to the selection input of the multiplexer while its two data inputs respectively receive the output of the delay line (41) and a constant high level.

It should be noted that unlike conventional ETDM or OTDM techniques which use delayed replicas of an input signal, the invention provides a recirculation loop in which the delay is applied to a signal taken at the output.

In practice, the inputs E1 and E2 of the combiner must receive signals in phase. For example, there is provided a phase shifter element (preferably adjustable) between the generator 60 (or integrated with the latter) and the combiner 40 for phasing the signals applied to the inputs E1 and E2.

The foregoing description has been made in connection with an embodiment by means of electronic circuits. It will be noted, however, that a completely or partially optical embodiment of the invention is possible. For example, it is possible to use an optical source of a few gigabits / s, or even a few tens of gigabits / s, which is subjected to an accelerator according to the invention. Such an accelerator can be obtained by separating the initial bit stream with a separator, one of the channels being assigned a delay chosen as for the electronic version.

Of course, the present invention is susceptible of various variations and modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, the practical realization of a delay line for the implementation of the invention, whether by electronic or optical technologies, is within the abilities of those skilled in the art from the functional indications given below. above. For example, it will be possible to use optical and / or electrical techniques within the accelerator circuit (electrically controlled optical modulator, photodiode associated with a laser, etc.). In addition, the exploitation of high-speed streams generated by the invention is compatible with all conventional applications.

Claims (9)

1. A method for accelerating a pseudo-random input bit flow (PRBS(T₁)) having a length of 2^n-1 bits, generated from a polynom of an irreducible degree n at a first clock frequency (f1), into an identical output bit flow (PRBS(T₀)) at a second clock frequency (f0), greater than the first clock frequency, the method comprising the following steps:

   the output bit flow is collected;

   the collected flow is delayed by a predetermined value (τ) respecting the following relation: $$\mathrm{\tau }\mathrm{=}{\mathrm{2}}^{\ell }{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{1}}\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{0}}\mathrm{,}$$

   

   where T₁ represents the clock period of the input bit flow, T₀ represents the clock period of the output bit flow, and ℓ is an integer setting a decimation parameter;
   the delayed flow is combined with the input bit flow.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein delay τ is selected to respect the following relation: $$\mathrm{\tau }\mathrm{=}\left(\mathrm{2}\mathrm{k}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\left({\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{n}}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{0}}\mathrm{,}$$

   

   
   where k represents any integer, and where n represents the degree of the irreducible polynomial of the random sequence.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein numbers k and ℓ respect the following relation: $$\left(\mathrm{2}\mathrm{k}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\left({\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{n}}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{*}\mathrm{p}{\mathrm{2}}^{\ell }\mathrm{,}$$

   

   
   where p is the desired acceleration factor.
4. A circuit for accelerating an initial pseudo-random bit flow (PRBS(T₁)) having a length of 2^n-1 bits, generated from a polynom of an irreducible degree n at a first frequency (f1), into an identical accelerated bit flow (PRBS(T₀)) at a second frequency (f0) greater than the first clock frequency, the circuit comprising a combiner (40) having a first input adapted to receiving the initial bit flow and having an output adapted to providing the accelerated flow, a second input of the combiner being connected by a delay element (41) to the combiner output, the delay τ of the delaying element respecting the following relation: $$\mathrm{\tau }\mathrm{=}{\mathrm{2}}^{\ell }{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{1}}\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{0}}\mathrm{,}$$

   

   
   where T₁ represents the clock period of the input bit flow, T₀ represents the clock period of the output bit flow, and ℓ is an integer setting a decimation parameter.
5. The circuit of claim 4, wherein a reshaping element (42) at the high frequency is provided at the combiner output.
6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein a phase-shifting element is further provided between the generator of the original pseudo-random bit sequence and the combiner (42).
7. The circuit of any of claims 5 to 6, wherein the initial bit flow is obtained by a flip-flop generator.
8. The circuit of any of claims 5 to 7, formed by optical and/or electronic means.
9. The circuit of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the delay applied by said delay element (41) is selected by implementation of the method of any of claims 2 to 4.

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